I know there was a conversation about the new TVIB&G in here somewhere, but I can't find it so I am going to start a new post and hope that you guys take pity on me and my last couple of brain cells and have the good graces not to point out the certainly obvious thread where the original discussion started.....Anyways, Trader Vic's:

Trader Vic's has recently started a pilot project for a Franchise idea called Trader Vic's Island Bar & Grill. And however these things get figured out in situations like this, Sarasota Florida was chosen as ground-zero. That turned out to be kind of handy since we have a Fellow Moai who happens to live in Sarasota. Even handier that he likes the occasional rum-based cocktail. Handier still he happens to have a really nice camera. Keep that camera bit in mind, it will come in handy later in this discussion.

As the Florida Ohana are want to do from time to time we all sent up smoke signals for a get together and organized a Carving Jam (do your own search, I don't have enough brian power to tell this story AND connect all the little bits of the conversation). Spent the day making sawdust, spent the evening making full cocktails become empty cocktails. It's a lot of fun!

Where was I heading? Oh yeah, Trader Vic's....

The place is freaking AWESOME! And even all caps doesn't quite get the point across that I am really jealous I don't have one closer. I really hope this idea works and they start opening more. Starting with somewhere closer to me.

The outside is unassuming because the location was a restaurant previously. A nice sign and some tiki torches are the only clues of what lies inside. Inside, it looks great! It is not as visually dense as your Father's (or Grandfather's) Trader Vic's, but this place isn't your father's trader Vic's. Its better.

It's better because the food is good. Well, the appetizers are good because that is all we had. I am figuring that if the pu-pu's are this good, then dinner should be at least as good. And if dinner is at least as good, then it should get very high marks indeed. And I can highly recommend the Beef Chocho. Tender Beef, yummy sauce, and a bit pot of fire. Fabulous!

And since this crowd is, at least generally, more interested in the bar let me say again AWESOME! Started with a Mai Tai because its Trader Vic's and you really shouldn't do it any other way. 1944 style, fresh lime, quality rum, quality assembly, quality presentation. I hate to say this, but their Mai Tai was better than the ones I make at home. In my own defense, I am not a Trader Vic's so in theory mine will always be only imitations of the 'real thing.'

Remember when I mentioned cameras? Well, I didn't charge mine before we left so I didn't get any pictures. Some of the others who were in our group, however, managed to get lots of pictures so I am going to stop here and let them share.

From the outside you would never know what tiki magic is hidden within.

The first thing you see when walking in, well the second thing really. The first thing you see is the smiling face of your hostess. The second thing you see is a nice root-ball-head tiki that is just shy of 6 feet tall. And behind those two people/things you see a ceiling covered in tapa and/or thatch, hanging flotsam and jetsam, those cool square Chinese tiles, and then your eyes just kind of settle back on the smiling face of your hostess who is waiting patiently for your answer would you like to sit inside or outside.

All that 'stuff' is no where as densely packed as 'traditional' Trader Vic's, but there is more than enough to be a feast for the senses.

From the outside you would never know what tiki magic is hidden within.

The first thing you see when walking in, well the second thing really. The first thing you see is the smiling face of your hostess. The second thing you see is a nice root-ball-head tiki that is just shy of 6 feet tall. And behind those two people/things you see a ceiling covered in tapa and/or thatch, hanging flotsam and jetsam, those cool square Chinese tiles, and then your eyes just kind of settle back on the smiling face of your hostess who is waiting patiently for your answer would you like to sit inside or outside.

All that 'stuff' is no where as densely packed as 'traditional' Trader Vic's, but there is more than enough to be a feast for the senses.

Always a bit slow on the uptake... here are a few pics from Trader Vics that I took the previous time I was at Trader Vics.I second that the food and drink are good -plus they have the classy mouthwash dispenser in the bathroom. Sure no Tina, but pretty nice.

Certainly not very dark and mysterious and there are some strange plastic flora and flauna strewn about. It's more like a Tiki /Caribbean mix - which suits me just fine.

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